Improvement in tilting gates



R. L. D'AWSON.- Tilting-Gate.-

No. 216.315. Patented Juhe 10, 1.879.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNE'Y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE RICHARD L.DAWSON, OF LOWELL, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN TILTING GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,3 [5, dated June10, 1879 application filed April 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD L. Dawson,

, of Lowell, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Tilting Gates; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference be ing had to theaccompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification,

My invention relates to an improvement in tilting gates, the objectbeing to provide a gate which may be readily opened and closed with butslight expenditure of power, and so constructed and arranged that nopivots or journals are required for retaining the gate in po sition; andto these ends my invention consists, first,in a til ting gate,in thecombination, with suitable guiding supports or frames, of a gate havingits rear end curved and weighted, and so arranged as to be entirelydisconnected from its side frames or guides, and adapted to be supportedby its weighted curvedend when turned from a horizontal to a verticalposition.

My invention further consists in the several details of construction andcombinations of parts, as will hereinafter be described, and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspectiveillustrating the gate in a closed position, and Fig.2 aside view,showing the gate when in an open position; and Fig. 3 is a detached viewof one of the gates, the rear end thereof being partially cut away toshow the weights.

A represents the gate-sill, to which the uprights B are firmly secured.G are stringers connecting the uprights B, and forming the twofence-panels D on opposite sides of the gate-opening. Uprights E aresecured to the sill A in close proximity to uprights B, sufficient spacebeing provided between the same to allow of the vertical movement of thegates F, which latter are constructed as follows:

The inner ends of the gates may be formed like any ordinary panel of agate, while to the rear end of the gate is secured the side pieces a a,each being formed with curved ends I). The side pieces project outwardlyfrom the gate -panel, thus forming side bearings c, to

prevent the withdrawal of the gate from between the vertical guides,between which they are arranged to operate, and also said side piecesconstitute a wide curved bearing for supporting the gate as it is turnedfrom a horizontal to a vertical position. iounterbalanceweights G areinserted between the side pieces a a above the longitudinal center ofthe gate. These weights should be made sufficiently heavy and located insuch a position that when the inner end of the gate is raised theweights will nearly carry the gates over into a vertical position.

It will be observed that the gates do not require any pivotal supports,and that sliding friction is obviated in their operation, as the entireweight of the gate is supported on its curved rear end, and but rollingfriction is to be overcome in the opening or closing of the same.

When the gate is supported upon a pivotal bearing much trouble andinconvenience are expericn ced in operating, for the following reasons:The pivots or journals are constantly exposed to the weather and soonrust, and the gates are rendered difficult of operation; also, it isoften the case that the pivots become bent, or the gate sags so that theopening and closing of the gate are made impossible; further, the entireweight of the gate being supported on a single pivot, the parts becomeworn in a comparatively short time, so that the gate will not operatewithout the expenditure of considerable force, and in many cases is,rendered totally inoperative from such cause.

In my improved gate all these objections are obviated, as pivotalsupports are dispensed with, and the gate supported on the curved treadformed or applied to the rear end thereof.

My improvement is equally well adapted to a single or double gate.

In the drawings I have represented my invention as being embodied in adouble gate, and in such form of construction one section may beprovided with a hook, H, adapted to engage in an eye, h, secured to thesill, and thus prevent the gate from being accidentally opened ordisplaced. The opposite section of the gate may be provided with a hook,I, ar' ranged to engage with a pin, '6, on the other section, to lockboth gates in a closed position v or any other suitable locking devicemay be 1. A tilting gate provided with a curved rear end and side framesor supports for retainin g the gate in vertical position, the curved endof the gate resting on the gate-sill and supporting the gate when in avertical position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with suitable side frames or supporting guides, of atilting gate constructed with a weighted and curved rear end, whichlatter rests upon the gate-sill or other suitable foundation andsupports the gate as it is being opened or closed, substantially as setforth.

3. A double tilting gate, each section of which consists of a gateprovided with weighted curved ends, which rest upon a suitablefoundation and support the gate when opened or closed, substantially asset forth.

4. The combination, with suitable upright guides secured to a gate-sill,of a gate furnished with side pieces formed with curved ends, said sidepieces projecting laterally outward to form shoulders to prevent thedisplacement of the gate, and the curved ends forming a curved tread forsupporting the gate as it is opened or closed, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination, with a gate-sill having suitable uprights attachedthereto, of a gate having a curved rear end, and arranged to be openedand closed by rolling the gate on its curved end, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I. have hereunto set my hand andseal this 12th day of April, 1879.

RICHARD L. DAWSON. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

OLNEY -13. FULLER, JAMES H. WEEKs.

